Benue under siege as fresh attacks claim 10 lives, injure scores

No fewer than 10 farmers have been reportedly killed following a late-night attack on Ankpali Community in Apa Local Government Area of Benue State by armed men suspected to be marauding herdsmen.

The attack, according to a local, Inalegwu Adikwu, explained that the invasion occurred in the wee hours of Sunday night, April 12, 2026, which he said had left the rural community in mourning, with several other persons still unaccounted for as local search efforts continue and scores sustained varying degrees of injuries.

He said, “The assailants, who are armed herdsmen militia, stormed the area under the cover of darkness and opened fire on villagers, setting houses ablaze causing panic and forcing many families to flee their homes for safety.

“The latest violence has thrown Ankpali into deep fear, as survivors and displaced families seek refuge in safer locations within and outside the community”.

He described the incident as heartbreaking and unbearable, lamenting the worsening insecurity that had continued to claim lives of farmers and disrupt farming communities across Benue State at the on-set of farming season.

“This attack has thrown the community into renewed fear and uncertainty, with residents fleeing for safety amid concerns of further violence’, he noted.

He described the situation as devastating with corpses are still being picked as security agencies and community members comb the bushes and assess the scale of the damage caused.

They said, “The latest tragedy underscores the persistent insecurity in the area and there is urgent need to sustained intervention to protect vulnerable communities.”